Bloom Award --Finalist

Lemos and Crane competition organisers indicate that:

Queen Elizabeth House has a unique way of encouraging and supporting residents to lead fulfilling lives. Firstly, it encourages staff to get to know their residents by asking about their life stories. Key workers meet up with residents each month to discuss their wishes and needs. Secondly, it gives residents jobs to do. Residents are encouraged and supported to get actively involved in daily activities around the home. They make their beds with staff if they want to. Residents take part in staff interviews. Three of the residents take turn to show prospective residents or relatives around the home and tell them what the home is all about. One resident runs the home’s main office and answers the phone at weekends. Two residents have set up a shop and run it weekly, selling the merchandise, budgeting, balancing the takings, stock control etc. Residents manage the dining room and set tables. Residents water the garden, one resident has a dedicated patch in the garden and manages it with her daughter. Another resident carries out surveys on social activities and provides feedback.  The residents committee is producing an information pack for all the rooms. Relatives are also involved and drive the minibus to take residents on outings, produce newsletters, chair meetings etc. 

JUDGES COMMENTS:

“A really good example of how to treat people as individuals and how to put them in charge of the care they receive. Simple ideas that could easily be replicated if you are using a person centred approach.”

“A very original approach within a residential care home. I am sure the impact on residents will be significant because of the encouragement to feel useful and active: residents are more likely to form relationships with each other and with staff as a result. “

"Each resident is involved as much as they want in the life of Queen Elizabeth House. They have an email address, and can use a laptop and webcam to connect with relatives. They take part in staff interviews and show people around. Two residents run a shop. And there’s a wishing tree – each month two residents’ wishes come true."